The ‘Rising Antenna’ title emerged from one of the rarer bite types that occur on a waggler float. When fishing competitions on his favourite River Witham, the author noted how the float would fully settle with only a fraction of the tip left showing on the surface, only for a fish to take the bait and rise up in the water. This lifted the bottom shot, and the float would rise slowly as a consequence. Very often such a bite produced the best roach of the day.
The book consists of two halves. Chapter One starts by explaining the benefits of a day spent at the waterside. Jim then charts the history of the waggler float from humble beginnings up to when peacock quill was discovered as the ideal float material, and explaining how its name was coined back in the 1960s when a Lancastrian noted how it waggled when hanging from the line upside down.
Jim’s ‘Personal Journey’ chapter describes a lifetime’s experience of fishing the waggler, and his experiments with different designs for fishing both rivers and lakes. From early struggles at gin clear Damflask Reservoir, he improved and developed his own floats that served him well in winning matches on all kinds of venues. Float-making and other techniques are also covered.
Part Two introduces Jim’s contributors from the world of match angling. Included are England Internationals and River Trent aces, John Dean and Dave Thomas, along with Witham wizards Dave Ashmore and Roger Wakenshaw, former Fish’O’Mania champion Warren Martin on pellet waggler, and the young star of England World Youth squads, Matt Godfrey writing about the slider.
Jim says in his introduction that ‘enthusiasm’ is the word that he believes he and his anglers promote in the book. He is fascinated by the fact that angling can never be fully mastered because every day and set of conditions is different, and the fish do not always conform to human expectations. Maybe this uncertainty is what draws them back for more day after day, season upon season.
From Sheffield, a former World Youth Champion and consistent performer for England Youth teams since the age of 14.
The river maestro, from Selston, Notts., who reigned supreme on the Trent in the Seventies and Eighties.
From Leeds, World Champion in 1981, was Dean’s greatest rival in that golden era of the big Trent matches.
From Selby, the laid-back former Barnsley Black and two-time Trent Champion who is equally at home on river roach or commercial carp.
From Barnsley and another long-serving Barnsley Black, seemingly casual on the outside but this masks a deadly competitor beneath…
From Scunthorpe, the tidal Trent king who has taken more 20lb tidal Trent match catches on the float than anyone over the last 20 years.
Two of the finest float anglers ever to grace the banks of the River Witham.
A top waggler man from Rotherham.
From Chesterfield, a former member of the successful Trentmen team and river die-hard…
From Sheffield, another former Barnsley Black and Sheffield team angler, who has successfully switched from silver fish to catching carp on pellet waggler.
From Dereham, Norfolk, a former Fish’O’Mania champion and fine exponent of the pellet waggler method.
A former military man from Sheffield, is also a sharp-shooter on pellet waggler for carp and holds the match record on his local KJS Aston lake…
Weaver anglers from Macclesfield and Northwich respectively, discuss small sliders for their local River Weaver with Jim Baxter…
Former England Internationals with a proven track record on different versions of the waggler.
'Got my copy, it's unputdownable. Written by a professional who also had and equal angling ability. Jim has a match record that made my jaw drop when I read it. However, the book gets into the minds of some of the greats of match fishing, and in a leisurely sort of way, optimistic way, lays bare the essence of fishing the waggler. 375 pages, it's massive compared to any other fishing book I've come across. A must buy for Christmas which will take anyone until Spring to digest. It doesn't dwell in the past though, it's current, and relevant, and particularly modern in layout, and can only make you look at those dusty old wagglers again with a sense of reverence and excitement.'
003003 on Maggot Drowners forum'That's it, I have read the book and shall be at a loss now, as I really enjoyed it. A fantastic read, and they say you cannot teach an old dog 'new tricks'? Well I can dispel that right away, for I am excited, enthusiastic, and cannot wait to put into practice some of the many things in the book from different contributors.'
Roly Moses, contributor